Automatic stacking, counting, and transferring apparatus



g- 12, I952 G. B. FORBES, JR 2,606,483

AUTOMATIC STACKING, COUNTING, AND TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1949 r 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY g- 1952 G. B. FORBES, JR 3 AUTOMATIC STACKING, COUNTING, AND TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR,

Aware/var Aug. 12, 1952 G. B. FORBES, JR

AUTOMATIC STACKING, COUNTING, AND TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR,- 0/1/ 6. [02.55; J

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Patented Aug. 12, 1952 1 AUTbMATIC STACKING, COUNTING, AND. .TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Gordon B. Forbes,Jr., Oakland, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Benner-Nawman, Inc., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 14, 1949, Serial No. 70,950

The present invention relates to improved apparatus for the automatic stacking, counting and group transferring of articles delivered in a continuous flow thereto. More particularly, .the present invention relates to apparatus for handling roofing shingles 'or similar slabs, and is especially suitable ior use in-carrying out 'the aforementioned operations'in the handling of shingles coated with granular material and while the shingles are comparatively hot and extremely limber.

Apparatus designed in general for carrying out the above'operations has been utilized in the mass production of roofing shingles and the like for many years. However, certain inherent shortcomings have been found to exist in presently availableequipment, and the apparatus of the present invention has been designed to obviate these difficulties and provide for a smooth and efiicient operation:

Apparatus commonly utilized for counting, stacking and transferring roofing shingles and the like, generally. comprises a receiving unit to which the articles to be stacked are continuously delivered from. a production machine, each article actuating a switch mechanism as the article enters the receiving unit whereby the latter is caused to descend a predetermined amount and thus maintain the top of the accumulated vertical stack of articles at a constant level substantially coinciding with the delivery path of the articles. When apredetermined number of articles have been delivered to the receiving unit, suitable mechanism is actuated whereby the stack is delivered bodily to a conveyor and thence advancedto a subsequent operating station for further handling or processing; 'In most types of apparatusnpresently in use/and including the apparatu'sof the present invention, the receiving or stack-sizing unit when filled to the desired level, drops sufficiently to deliver the stack to thetakeaway conveyor, an auxiliary receiving unit automatically shifting into position meanwhile to support the following or succeeding articles being supplied to the stacker, the auxiliary unit shifting out of position again and simultaneously transferring its accumulated stack of articles to the primary-or first receiving unit as the latter returns to position after transferring a completed stack to the conveyor.

One of the particular objections to prior commercially-employed equipment, especially when handling granule coated asphaltic shingles in a heated condition, is the fact that various moving parts of the machinery are adversely affected 20 Claims.

or rendered inoperative by reason of accumulations of disunited granules, from the shingles, this condition being commonly caused by the dragging action of shingles upon the trigger or detentof the actuating switch which is usually employed to count thedelivered articles and to control the operation of the receiving unit. Another common difliculty is that the conveyor unit to which the stacks are delivered by the receiving unit inadequately supports the shingles. since the latter are normally delivered to the unit in a heated condition in which they are quite flexible and susceptible to sagging.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for the stacking, counting and group separation of roofing shingles, asphaltic tile, and the like articles, which are continuously delivered thereto, and particularly, adapted for use in carrying out these operations in the handling of heated'asphaltic articlescoated with granular aggregateor the like.

A furtherbbject of the invention is to provide automatic apparatus ofthe class described in which the moving' parts'thereof are designed and operated in suchmanner as to be either shielded from or kept free of the loose aggregate particles or so as to be unaffected thereby.

' Another obiect of the invention is to provide apparatus of the class described capable of efficient operation at unusually high speeds.

An additional object of the invention is to provide improved' and trouble-free actuating and control mechanism for the receiving unit whereby each phase of operation is accurately timed and controlled to take place in proper sequence.

A further object is to'provide improved means which will convey the heated and limber shingles through the apparatus without sagging or deformation; A still further object is to provide improved combination pneumatic and hydraulic control of movements of the receiving unit and associated mechanism whereby rapid, positive, and reliable operation of the apparatus is assured, together with automatic self-regulation in accordance with speed of delivery of articles to the machine.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing'will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in'the drawingaccompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understoodrhowever, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of shingle stacking and transferring apparatus of the present invention, with some parts broken away and other parts omitted for clearness of illustration.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken at line 22 of Figure 1 and showing diagrammatically the receiving unit in shingle-receiving position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure. 2 except that the receiving unit is shown in stack-transferring position.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating the hydraulic-pneumatic power supply system and associated interlock controls.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dual valve used in the control system of the ap paratus.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dual valve aforesaid taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical actuating member employed in a number of instances in the control system.

Figures 8, 9, I0, 11 and 12 are longitudinal sectional views of. various valves used for controlling the flow of fluid at various branches of the system.

The apparatus in the form illustrated in the drawings is particularly adapted for use with asphalt roofing shingles, and as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 includes a metal framework 5 which serves as a housing and. support for the various elements of the apparatus. Arranged within the frame for vertically reciprocable movement is a shingle-receiving element 6 here shown carried by a vertically extending piston rod 1 of a double acting cylinder 8 containing a piston 4 (see Figure 4) and supported on a suitable cross member of the frame. Guide rollers 9 are mounted on opposite ends of the element 6 and engage vertical guide rods l0 fixedly attached to the frame.

The element 6 is positioned to receive shingles such as the shingles- Illa as shown in Figure 1 from a chute ll, and, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, is caused to descend as the shingles become stacked thereon. In the form shown, the shingles Hiu. are provided with slots or notches IE1) in their edges for dividing the shingles into sections. The shingles are arranged to be removed from the receiving element 6 when the latter reaches a bottom position, and as here shown the removal of the shingles from the receiving element is effected by means comprising a conveyor 16-. In order to provide proper support for the shingles and to provide for the smooth and easy transfer of the shingles from'the element 6 to the conveyor [6, the element 6 is designed in the form of a multiple part grid composed of a plurality of horizontally spaced grid sections l2 which are carried by a cross bar l3 afilxed to the piston rod 1. The conveyor 16 is also formed in sections and comprises endless belts l1, l8, and [9 extending horizontally in the spaces between the grid sections and mounted upon sets of pulleys 2|, 22, and 23 fixedly carried on a shaft 24. In the drawings, but one set of the pulleys is illustrated, and as will be clear from Figure l, the tension of the belts may be varied by means of take-up screws 26 connected to adjustable bearings 21 which are slidably mounted in brackets 28 and 29 and support the shaft 24. A plurality of rollers 3| are mounted in the frame on horizontal bars 31a secured at 32 and 3 $0 4 as to provide a firm support for the upper reaches or plies of the belts when the shingles are carried thereon. In the present design of the apparatus, the belts are arranged for continuous movement by any suitable driving means for applying power to one of the supporting shafts for the belts.

In the operation of the receiving element, the top surface of the shingle-receiving element or elevator 6 will be dropped to a level below the upper reaches of the belts l1, I8 and [9 when the element. assumes its lowermost position. In this way, as will be clear from Figure 3, the shingles will move from position on the receiving element to the belts and thereupon over the rollers 31 to the wrapping or other station as the case may be.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the shingles for stacking are delivered from the chute H and over an apron 34 in the frame to an open portion 36 at the top of the frame and thence deposited upon the receiving element 6 which is located directly beneath such open portion, or alternately upon an auxiliary receiving element as hereinafter described.

Means is provided for preventing the stacking of shingles upon the receiving element 6 after a predetermined number of shingles have been deposited thereon. Mounted for horizontal reciprocation upon a plurality of rollers 31 supported on guide tracks 38 and 39 in the frame, is an auxiliary receiving plate 40 arranged to move into and out of the area immediately below the open portion 36. The plate 40' is connected by means of a piston rod M to a pneumatic cylinder 42 secured in the frame by cross members 43, and such plate is actuated by the cylinder to move into shingle intercepting position as shown in Figure 3 when the receiving element 6 is being moved to a lowered position for removal of a completed stack therefrom; The plate 40 is allowed to remain in shingle intercepting position until the element 6 has been relieved of the shingles thereon and ascends to a point near its upper position. Ther'eupon the plate. 40 is retracted toward the right in said Figure 3 and the shingles having been held against movement toward the right with said plate 40 by an adjustable, fixed thrust bar 44 which defines one side of the open portion 36 and has its lower edge above the plane of the plate.

Arranged at theside of the open portion 36 opposite to the apron 34 is a backing plate 46 which serves as a stop to halt the forward motion of the shingles in passing from the chute H and over the open portion. A jogger plate 41 is pivotally mounted on the frame as by a shaft 48, at the side of the portion 36 opposite to the thrust bar 44, and such shaft has fixed thereon a rocker arm 49'(see Figure l) which is operatively associated with an actuator member 52 and moved in one direction by a piston rod 5| of a pneumatic cylinder forming part of such member, a spring 53 serving to urge the arm 49 to return position so as to provide for oscillation of the plate upon operation of the cylinder. In this manner the jogger plate will urge the shingles against the bar 44 and thus keep them in vertical alignment in the stack. In detail member 52 is of a construction'similar, to a number of other actuating members utilized in the present apparatus and which will be more specifically hereinafter described.

In order to prevent any dislodged granular particles of the shingles from being carried back by the auxiliary receiving plate 40, a flexible scraper 54 is secured to the thrust bar 44 and depends therefrom so as to engage the upper surface of the receiving plate as the latter is reciprocated thereunder. The plate 40 is provided on its upper face with wedge shaped portions at 56- in position to underlie the notches lfib of the shingles so .as to support in raised position the shingle portions at the trailing edges of the slots while the portions at the leading edges of said slots are comparatively lower. Thus, the possibility of successive shingles striking the forward edges of the preceding shingle slots will be prevented. As will also be noted, the shoulders at the thicker edges of the portions 56 define recesses into which the granular particles may be received pending removal by the scraper 54.

Means are provided for operating and controlling the operation of the vertically and the hori zontally movable shingle receiving members so as to coordinate their movements. As previously explained, the receiving element 6 is carried upon the piston rod 1 of the double-acting cylinder 8, and in the present embodiment the upward movement of the element is effected by oil pressure acting to raise the piston 4. Oil is supplied to the cylinder under the piston through a conduit 5'! leading from an oil reservoir 58 and containing a check-valve 59 which prevents back-flow of oil to the reservoir. Withdrawal of oil from the cylinder 8 is arranged to be effected through a conduit 6| connected with the conduit 51 between the cylinder and check-valve and extending to the reservoir. A hand-control valve62 is insertedin conduit 6! to regulate the rate of fiow of the oil through the conduit.

Contained within the conduit BI and interposed between the cylinder 8 and valve 62 is an automatic valve 63 which is operable periodically to control the return flow of oil from the cylinder so as to hold the receiving element 6 momentarily in fixed position and then permit its descent as shingles are accumulated thereon. The valve is normally maintained in closed position by a pneumatic actuating member 6-4, and as will be understood, the receiving element, when in an elevated shingle-receiving position, is, arranged to be lowered a distance equal to the thickness of a single shingle as each shingle is delivered thereto. Since the rate of flow through conduit BI is determined by manual control valve 62, and as the duration of opening of automatic valve 63 is constant, as controlled by the movement of successive shingles down the chute H, as hereinafter described, the amount of drop of the elevator for each shingle may be adjusted to adapt the apparatus in accordance with the thickness of the shingle to be stacked.

Means are therefore provided for actuating the member 54 so as to open the valve 63 as each shingle is delivered as aforesaid, the valve being opened at each instance sufficiently for permitting withdrawal of a quantity of oil from cylinder 8 as necessary to allow the receiving element to descend by gravity the desired distance. Any suitable type of valve 63 and actuating member '64 may be employed. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the actuator 64 is similar to member 52 pre viously referred to and includes a plunger 66 mounted in a cylinder Bland having attached thereto a rod 68 which serves as the valve stem for the valve 63. When the rod 6-8 is moved to the left in Figure 8, the valve closes the passage through the conduit 6|. The. rod 68 is normally retained by a spring 13, in a position with the here shown in the form of an air manifold 16 which is connected with the member by'means of a primary conduit TI and a branch conduit 18; Means for the release of air from the manifold and through conduits TI and 18 for eifecting actuation of member 64 as well as other actuating members utilized in the operation and control of the receiving units 6 and 40 and to be hereinafter described, is here shown in the form of a main control valve Hand. a solenoid 8| opera.- tively connected with the valve and. arranged in an electric circuit 82, the latter containing a micro-switch 83 whose operation is effected by passage of a shingle over the apron 34. Valve l9 as will be clear from Figure 12 is provided with a stem 84 having a passage 86 and movable to position the passage. into or out of registration with openings 81 communicating with conduit. Tl. Valve 19 is normally kept in closed position by means of a spring 88 which holds" the stem in. a position wherein passage 86 is out of, communication with conduit .11. Thestemsil l isconnected directly with the armature 89 .of the solenoid and as will be clear, when the latter is energized, the armature will move thestem-against resistance of spring 88, to place the valvein open position.-

As will be seen from Figures 1 and 3, switch 83 is enclosed in a housing 90 which ismounted on the frame 5 by means of a bracket 9| and is positioned immediately above and spaced from the apron 34 so that the shingles willrpass directly thereunder. The switch is normally maintained in open position so as to keep the circuit 82 open and the solenoid 8| de-energized: Associated with the switch is a lever 92 for actuating the switch, and means are provided for causing the lever to momentarily close thewswitch as each shingle passes over the apron. Providedin the apron is an air orifice 93 fromwhich a stream of air is arranged to be continuously emittedand is so positioned that the air stream will be directed against one arm 94 of the lever 92. An opening '95 is provided in the bottom wall .of the switch housing in order to permit passage of the stream of air from orifice to the lever. The lever is mounted on a pin 95 for oscillation about a horizontal axis and the latter is so positioned in respect to the lever that the arm aforesaid is 'un balanced and will assume a declined position as illustrated in Figure 3. In thelatter position, the other arm 91 of the lever will be elevated to contact and close the switch. However due to the force of the air stream impinging on arm 94; the lever as will be seen in Figure 2,"will'be maintained out of contact with the switch and the latter will be kept in open position as long'as the air stream is permitted toimpinge on thearm. The shingles, as will be understood; are arranged to be fed along the delivery chute and over the apron in longitudinally spaced relation. In this manner as the shingles successively pass overfthe apron, each shingle will in turn momentarily block. f the. stream issuin m or and thereby allow the lever to engage and close the swi ch durin su h n er a It Will be i t ently clo ed an o en as long as i l s are being delivered from the chute to the opening 36 and; no actuation of the solenoid 8| will be eifected; unless shingles are being so delivered.

As previously explained, when a predetermined number of shingles have been stacked upon the receiving element 6 thereceiving element will be allowed to descend to its bottom position for transfer or the shingle stack to the conveyor 16. In order to accelerate such downward movement of the element so that auxiliary plate 40 may be interposed in the opening 36 in time to intercept the succeeding shingles, means are provided for rapidly draining the oil below the piston 4 when the element has had the desired number of shingles accumulated thereon, In the present embodiment the quick drain of the oil is per mitted by allowing the oil in conduit 6i to be bypassed around the valve 63 through a conduit 98 whereby the oil from the cylinder 9 may return directly into the reservoir 58. Flow of oil through conduit 98 is controlled by an automatic valve 99 normally assuming a closed position so that flow of oil through conduit 98 is prevented. Valve 99 is similar in construction and operation to valve 53.. and the openin of Valve 99 is effected by an airsoperated actuator member Ill! which is similar to actuator 64 and supplied with air through conduit sections I02 communicating with the manifold I6 and having operatively connected therebetween a valve I03 for controlling the flow of air therethrough. Valve I63 is arranged to be normally held in closed position but opened irom the time the full stack of shingles has been accumulated on element 8 until the latter has reached its bottom position.

The operation oi, valve I03 is arranged to be controlled by the operation of the main control valve I9 and as here shown the operative connection between these valves comprises a shaft I04 arranged to be rotated intermittently on actuation of valve19 and having a cam Hit fixed thereon and designed whereby in certain positions of shaft I04 the valve I03 will be moved to open position so as in turn to provide for opening of valve 99. For rotating shaft I04 there is associated therewith an air-operated actuating member I01 similar to actuator 54 and having air communication with valve f9 by means of a conduit I08. Fixed on shaft I04 is a ratchet wheel I09 whose peripheral teeth H2 are positioned for engagement by a rod II3 which is reciprocated on actuation of member IN. The wheel I09 will be rotated upon each actuation of member I01 a distance equal to the peripheral spacing of the -teeth,and the number of the teeth a on the wheel corresponds to the number of shingles to be accumulated on the element 6 before transfer of the stack is made from the element to conveyor I6. Valve I 03 is provided with a valve-piston II4 which may be moved to open or close the passage through the valve by means of a push-rod II attached to the piston and arranged to engage the periphery of the cam. The rod is resiliently urged to an extended position by a spring IIS and when in such position said valve I03 will be open for admitting air from the manifold "IE to the conduit I59. On the other hand when the rod i in a retracted position, the valve will 'be held closed. The cam I055 is formed with an outer peripheral portion II! which will normally'keep the rod retracted. As will be seen r tions.

from Figure 4; there is provided in the cam periphery a recessed portion H8 in which the rod may assume its extended position so as to open the valve, and such portion is so formed and positioned on the cam and related to the wheel I09, that the recess will be presented to the rod I I5 when the final shingle for the stack has been deposited on the element. As will be evident the recess will be designed so as to keep the valve I93 in open position for the interval required for the element to descend to its bottom position and transfer its load to the conveyor belts. As soon as the recess leaves the rod, the valves I03 and 99 will be returned to closed position and the flow of oil through by-pass conduit 98 prevented.

Means are provided for forcibly urging the shingle receiving element downwardly While the valve 99 is open so as to increase the speed of descent of the .element at the time. As here shown such means involves the application of increased air pressure in the cylinder 0 above piston 4 Connecting the air manifold 18 with the cylinder 8 at the upper end thereof are conduit sections I2I and I22, having a valve I23 opera tively interposed therebetween. Valve I23 is normally held in closed position but may be opened by an air-operated actuator I24 whereby the cylinder may be placed in communication with the manifold. Air pressure for operating actuator I24 which is also similar in construction to actuator 64, is obtained from manifold l6 by means of conduit sections I25 and I25, and control of the flow of air therethrough is effected by means of a dual valve member I20 connecting such sec- Valve member I25 shown in Figures 5 and 6 has mounted therein a piston I29 having an operating rod I3! attached thereto and by means of which the piston may be reciprocated to open or close the passage through the sections. Valve-piston I29 is spring-pressed to hold the same in a position permitting flow oi air to the actuator, but the piston is arranged to be retained in a position preventing such flow, by means of a cam I32 fixedly mounted similar to cam I05 on shaft I94. The rod 13! is arranged to be maintained in engagement with the cam I32 and holds the piston in the closed or open positions aforesaid respectively as the rod is in contact with the extended or recessed peripheral. portions I33 and I34 of the cam. As will be understood the recessed portion 53 is so formed and related in position to ratchet wheel I89 and cam I06 that the piston will permit air to flow to actuator I24 from the time the elevator element 6 receives its full accumulation of shingles to the time it reaches its bottom position. In other words, the rods H5 and I3I will simultaneously engage in the respective cam recesses so that removal of the liquid from the hydraulic side of cylinder 9 and input of compressed air in the pneumatic side will occur at the same time. If desired the cam recess I34 may be formed to permit actuation of member I24 and the opening of valve I23 for the period during which the shingles are being accumulated on the element 5 in addition to the period immediately after the accumulation has been completed.

When the supply of compressed air to actuator I24 is cut off by valve I20, the valve I23 will be positioned to establish flow communication between conduit I2I and a relief port 35 provided in valve I23. As will be clear from Figure 5, only when the rod I3I is in fully extended position will the compressed air from conduit I2 5 be permitted to flow into the actuator conduit-I29 v9 so as to cause valve I23 to open the passage of compressed air to cylinder 8. In this manner shortly after the rod I3I begins to move out of cam recess I34 the pneumatic side of cylinder 8 will again be vented.

Transfer of the stack of shingles from the receiverB to the conveyor shall have occurred by the time the rod I3I is on its way out of cam recess I34 and has effected the venting of the pneumatic side of cylinder 8, and means are pro- .vided for thereupon causing the receiver element 6 to immediately move upward to its top position. In the present embodiment the raising of the element is effected by forcing compressed air from manifold 16 to the oil reservoir 58so that the oil will be forced therefrom into-the bottom portion'of cylinders8' byway of conduit 51. As previously mentioned, valve I28 is ofa'dual functi'cning type and as here shown this valve is utilized for controlling the admission of the compressed air to the oil reservoir. Connectingithe latter with air manifold 16, are conduit sections I36. and I37 having operatively interposed therebetween a valve I38 which is arranged to be maintained in closed position except when the receiving element is to be raised. Valve I38 is ofa type similar to valve I23 and is connected to an air-operated actuating member I39 which is of the same construction as member I24, for operation by member 139 in substantially the same manner as actuating member I24 operates valve I23. Actuating member I39 is also designed for operation by valve I28 and is connected thereto by a conduit I4I, but operation of the member for moving valvel38 to open the passage of compressed air to reservoir 58 is permitted only'after the pistonin valve I23 has been moved downwardly to provide for venting of the pneumatic side of cylinder '8 through port I35. As will be seen by reference to' Figure 5, the piston I 29 in valve I28 is formed with a longitudinal passage I42v which is at'all times in communication with conduit I25 and .is provided with branches I 43 and I44 arranged for registration with conduits MI and I26 respectivelyI Branch I441 is positioned to register with conduit I26 when the push-rod I3I has been fully extended, while on the other hand branch I43 is arranged to register with conduit I4I to permit flow of compressed air to actuate member I39, it being noted that the rod I3I is arranged to be moved to extended position in a rapid manner so that ve'rylittle air will pass into=conduit I4'I during such movement, wherebyeffectiv'e'fiow of air to conduit I4I will be-allowed only when the rod I3 I is being returned at its relatively slow'speed to its retracted position. [Thusyassuming that the retractionof the push rod has'fbeen initiated whereby the flow of compressed air tothe cylinder 8' has been cut .off and thefcylinder is in communicationwith relief port I35, the further retraction of the push rod will'place branch I43 in registration with conduit I 4|, whereby actuation of member I39 will be effected and valve I38 thereby moved to open position and establishing communication between the air manifold I6 and reservoir 58. By the time the retraction of the push rod has progressed to move the branch I43 out of registration with conduit I4I, the elevator element 6'shal1 have been fully raised by means of the oil pneumatically forced through conduit 51 from. the'rese'rvoi'r. to the cylinder. As the valve I38 isreturned to its normal position, the supply of compressed .air to the reservoir will be stopped, but "due to the presence of check-valve 59 in conduit 51, the element, a will be held in position subject to the intermittent lowering thereof as governed by the operation of valves 63 and 99 as heretofore explained. It may be mentioned at this time, that valve I38, like valve I23, is provided with an air relief port I46 which will be in communication with conduit I3! so as to normally provide a vent for reservoir '58.

As will be recalled, the auxiliary shinglereceiving plate '40 is arranged-to be moved into and out of the area below the receiving opening 36 while the elevator element 6 is being dropped with the full load of shingles to its bottom position and then returned to its upper position for accumulating a new stack of shingles. The means for effecting the movement of the plate 40 and its operation at the proper time is, in the present form of the invention, incorporated with the control apparatus previously set forth. The cylinder 42 which is associated with the plate 48 has contained therein a piston I47 to which is connected the piston rod 43 attached to the plate. Compressed air to the cylinder at opposite ends of the piston is arranged to be alternately admitted to the cylinder through conduits m8 and I49 operatively connected to a valve I5I. A conduit I52 connects valve I5I with manifold I6. As shown in Figure 11, there is mounted within valve I5I a slidable valve member I53 having ports I54 and I56 which upon reciprocation of the member will be alternately brought into registration with conduit I52 so that compressed air will be delivered successively to conduits I48 and I49. Conduit I49 is connected to the rear end of cylinder 42 so that upon admission of air to said conduit the plate 40 will be advanced to the shingle intercepting position as illustrated in Figure 3. Conduit I48 is connected to the forward end of cylinder 42 whereby ,on admission of air to this conduit the plate will be retracted to a rear position, as seen in Figure 2, out of the path of the shingles dropping through opening 36. Alternate venting'of each end of the cylinder for relieving the pressure in one end when compressed air is being admitted to the other end, is afforded by a relief port I51 which alternately communicates with conduits I48 and I49 when the valve member I53 is reciprocated.

Operation of valve I5I is arranged to be effected by an actuator I58 which is also of the same type as actuator 64 and normally holds the valve member I53 in a position wherein the forward end of cylinder 42 will bein communication with the compressed air manifold and the rear end vented to the atmosphere. Actuator I58 is operatively connected with cam-actuated valve I03, and as shown in Figure 4, is in flow communication with conduit Ill-2 by means of an extension I59. It will thus be seen that when valve I03 is moved to effect actuation and openmg of oil by-pass valve99, the actuator I58 will be motivated to move the valve member I53 so that the cylinder at the forward end of piston I4! will be vented while the rear end will be supplied with compressed air. In this way, as the receiving element 6 with its full load is moved down for transferring the shingles to the conveyor, the auxiliary receiving plate will be thrust into shingle receiving position. Correspondingly, when the valve I03 is returned to the position wherein the pressure is relieved in conduit I82, the receiving plate '40 will be instantly withdrawn to its retracted position.

Desirably, the/jogger actuator cylinder 52 is operatively'connected in the control system aforewill close micro-switch 83.

said, and in order that thejogger plate will move against each shingle as the same is received in the opening 36, the actuator '52 is connected by means of a conduit I6I with .the main control valve 1.9. I

Inorder to facilitate inspectionand service of the control system, the various parts thereof are grouped in a small :spacean'd in order to shield the parts from gravel falling from the shingles,

a housing I62 is provided for enclosingsuch parts, the different conduits connected to the operating members of the apparatus being led to the housing and operatively attached to the appropriate'parts of the-system. a

The operation crane-apparatus is as-follows:

Aseach shingle passes over the apron 34 to the receiving opening 36, the air stream from orifice 93 will be blocked off so that lever 92 Solenoid. BI will thereupon move themainc ontrol-valve 'ldwhereby all three actuators '64, I81, and 52 will be simultaneously operated assuming elevator "element 6 to be in shingle receivingpcsition and plate 4!] retracted; this operation-causes valve 63 to open line 6| sufiiciently todrop the receiving element the thickness or one shi-ngle, ratchet wheel I89 will be rotated the distance of one tooth, and the jogger plate will be-moved to engage and align the-shingle atthe top of the elevator element. These actions are 'ofcourse repeated with each closure-of the switch and when ratchet wheel I09 has been rotated to a position wherein the rods H5 and I3] enter recesses H8 and I34, valve I83 will be opened to actuate-members IIII and I58, and valve I28 will be moved to actuate member I24. As a result of the foregoing, valve 99 will open bypass conduit 98, valve I5I will admit compressed air to the rear of cylinder 42,- andvalve I2 3 will admit compressed air to the top of cylinder 8. It will thus be seenthatelevator element fi'will be dropped with the stack to-its'bottom position and the auxiliaryreceiving plate'Ail simultaneously thrust into position over the element. The element 6 will remainin its bottom position long enough for the bundle of shingles deposited on the belts to. clear the grid support members and until the switch 83- has been operated enough times to effect rotation of am I32 tothe point where rod l3I will-be retracted so as-to cause actuation of member I39 and the resultant operation of valve I28. to force the compressed air into the oil reservoir and the venting of the pneumatic side of cylinder 8. -As-a result of the later operations the element 6 will be moved to its upper position for again receiving the shingles. At the same time, however, rod I I is forced out of cam recess I I8 so that valve I83 will be opened and member I58 actuated to place valve I5I in the position causing venting of the rear end of cylinder 42 and admission of compressed air to the forward end so as to move receiving plate 48 quickly from its position over receiving element 6. As the plate 40 is being retracted, the shingles accumulated thereon are prevented from moving with the plate by the presence of the thrust bar 44, and in this manner when the plate hasbeen fully retracted said shingles will be dropped upon the element 6 now in about its top position and the oncoming shingles entering the opening 36 will be deposited directly on the stack as now supported on said element 5. A new cycle of the aforementioned operations is then begun.

It will now be evident that with the apparatus of the present invention the operation will be controlled by the. rapidity with which the'shingles are fed to the apparatus :This permits a very high speed operation and output of stacked articles. At the same time a positive control of the number of shingles in-ea'ch stack delivered will be guaranteed. It is also important to note that with the use of the apparatus of the invention, there is minimum danger of the granular particles separating from the body of the shingles, or of the shingles being torn, bent, or otherwise damaged during their passage through the apparatus. In this connection it will be seen that only av relatively short drop of the shingle is necessary from the feeding chute to the auxiliary plate, and from the latter to the elevator element. Furthermore, the stacking 'of the shingles will be effected with all shingles placed in alignment, andsuch alignment will be maintained in the transfer of the shingles from each successive station to the next. I

I'claim:

1. In an apparatus for counting and stackin shingles, the combination ofa plurality of conveyors arranged side by side in spaced relationship to eachother adapted to support a stack of shingles for movement horizontally thereby, shingle supportingmembers arranged oppositely with respect to each other between said conveyors, means for giving said shingle supporting members reciprocating vertical movements, means for providing a stack of shingles on said supporting members during a portion of their downward movement so as to be deposited on said conveyors upon their continued downward movement, hydraulic means to effect'an accelerated downward movement of the shingle-supporting members between an intermediate and-lowermost position of their movement, and control means actuated by the passage of a prescribed; number of shingles being deposited uponsaid supporting members for effecting operation of saidhydraulic means. 2. In an {apparatus for counting and stacking shingles, the combination of a plurality of conveyors arranged side by side in spaced relationship to each other adapted to support a stack of shingles for movement horizontally thereby, a bar extending'across below said conveyors, a plurality of vertically elongated grid members mounted on said bar between said conveyors with their upper faces in alignment, means for giving said bar and said grid members reciprocatin vertical movements, means for providing a stack of shingles on said grid members during a portion of their downward movement so as to deposit said shingles on said conveyors upon continued downward movement of the grid members, hydraulic means to .efiect an accelerated downward movement of the shingle-supporting members between an intermediate and lowermost position of their movement, and control means actuated by the passage of a prescribed number of shingles being deposited upon said supporting members for effecting operation of said hydraulic means.

3. In an apparatus for counting and stacking shingles, the combination of a plurality of conveyors arranged side by side in spaced relationship to each other adapted to support a stackof shingles for movement horizontally thereby, a bar extending across below said conveyors, a plurality of heavy plates mounted on edge on said bar between said conveyors with their upper edge faces in alignment with each other, fluid pressure operated means positioned below said bar and adapted to give said bar and said plates reciprocating vertical movements, means for providing a stack of shingles on said plates during a portion of their downward movement so as to deposit said shingles on said conveyors upon continued downward movement of said plates with said bar, hydraulic means to effect an accelerated movement of said bar and plates between an intermediate position and their lowermost position of movement so as to deposit the stack of shingles on said conveyors, means including a toothed wheel having a number of teeth corresponding to the desired number of shingles in a stack operatively connected to said hydraulic means whereby the latter will be actuated upon one complete revolution of said wheel, and means for rotating said wheel a distance of one tooth as each shingle is deposited on said plates.

4. In an apparatus for counting and stacking shingles, the combination of a plurality of conveyors of the endless belt type arranged side by side in spaced relationship to each other so as to support a stack of shingles for movement horizontally thereby, shingle supporting members arranged oppositely with respect to each other between said conveyors, means for giving said shingle supporting members reciprocating movements, means for providing a stack of shingles on said supporting members during a portion of their downward movement so as to be deposited on said conveyors upon their continued movement downwardly, means to effect an accelerated movement of said supporting members between an intermediate position and lowermost position of movement so as to deposit the stack of shingles on said conveyors, and control means for actuating said acceleration means, said control means being actuated after accumulation of a prescribed number of shingles in said stack.

'5. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having means thereon defining an article-receiving opening, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path toward and into said opening, a vertically-reciprocable articlereceiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, a conveyor extending from under said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowermost posiiton of its movement, means operative to effect intermittent downward movement of said article-receiving element from an uppermost position of its movement so as to periodically maintain the top of the stack slightly below the plane of. the delivery path of said articles, hydraulic means operative after accumulation of a prescribed number of articles in said stack to effect an accelerated movement of the receiving element between an intermediate position and said lowermost position of its movement so as to deposit the stack of articles on said conveyor, and control means actuated by the passage of shingles along said delivery path operatively connected to said hydraulic means.

6. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having means thereon defining an article-receiving opening, means on said frame for conducting a succesion of articles along a substantially linear delivery path toward and into said opening, a vertically-reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, a conveyor extending fromunder saidopening and "14 arranged to receive an accumulated stack of arti: cles from said element when the latter is in a lowermost position of its movement, means operable by movement of said articles along the delivery path thereof for controlling and eifecting an intermittent downward movement; of said article-receiving element from an uppermost position of its movement so as to periodically maintain' the top of the stack ineffective receiving position below the plane of the delivery path of said articles, hydraulic means operative after accumulation of a prescribed number of articles in said stack to effect an accelerated movement of the receiving element between an intermediate position and said lowermost position of its movement so as to deposit the stack of articles on said conveyor, and a shingle actuated control mechanism for effecting operation of said hydraulic means.

7. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having means thereon defining an article-receiving opening,'means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linearly unobstructed delivery path toward and into said opening,'a vertically-reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, a conveyor extending from under said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowermost position of its movement, control mechanism operable by and upon passage of successive articles past a point in said delivery path for effecting vertical alignment of the articles in said stack and for actuating apparatus effecting intermittent downward movement of said article-receiving element from an uppermost position of its movement so as to periodically maintain the top of the stack in substantial registry with the plane of the delivery path of said articles, hydraulic means operative after accumulation of a prescribed number of articles in said stack to effect an accelerated movement of the receiving element between an intermittent position and said lowermost position of its movement so as to deposit thestack of articles on said conveyor, shingle counting means operatively connected to said hydraulic means, and means movable under said opening coincidently with institution of accelerated movement of said article-receiving element for intercepting a series of delivered articles while said stack is being deposited on said conveyor and for transferring said series of articles to the article-receiving element after deposit of the stack on said conveyor.

8. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having means thereon defining an article-receiving opening, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linearly unobstructed delivery path toward and into said opening, a vertically reciprocable article receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, a conveyor extending from under said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowermost position of its movement, control mechanism-operable by and upon passage of successive articles past a point in said delivery path and including means interposed in the delivery path and engageable by successive articles as the later move along said path for effectingvertical alignment of the articles in said stack and for actuating apparatus efi'ecting intermittent downward movement of saidarticle-receiving element from an uppermost position of itsmovement -soas to periodically maintain the top of-the stack slightly below the plane of thedelivery path of said articles, hydraulic means operative after accumulation of a prescribed number of articles in said stack to efiect anaccelerate'd movement of the receiving element between an intermediate position and said lowermost position of its movement so as to deposit the stack of articles on said conveyor, a ratch'et'mechanis'm actuated by the passage of said shingles and operatively connected to said hydraulic means for operating the latter, and means movable under said opening coincidently with institution of accelerated movement of said article-receiving element for intercepting a series of delivered articles while said stack is being'deposited on said conveyor and for transferring said series of articles to the article-receiving element after deposit of the stack on said conveyor. 9.-,In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having 'means'thereon defining an article-receiving opening, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially, linearly unobstructed delivery path toward and into said opening, a vertically-reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, a conveyorextending from under said opening and arranged to receive an-accumulated stack of article's from said element when the latteris in a lowermost position'of its movement, control mechanism operable by and upon passage of successive articlespast a point in said delivery path and including means interposed in the delivery pathand-engageable by successive articles as the latter move along said path, said control mechanism being arranged to effect intermittentdown'ward movement of said articlereeeiving element fro-in an uppermost position of its movement in increments substantially corresponding to corresponding vertical dimensions of successive;articles-,and thus periodically maintain the top' of the'st'ac'l: in substantial registry with the-plane of the delivery path of said articles, hydraulic means operativeafter accumulation of a prescribed number of articles in said stack toieffe'ct an accelerated movement of the receiving element between an intermediate position and said lowermost position of its movement so as to deposit the stack of articles on said conveyor, and a shingle actuated control device for causing said hydraulic means to operate.

10. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having therein an article-receiving opening defined'by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a joggerside member spacedfrom the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting-asuccession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path into'said openingand into engagemen-t with theend stop memher, a vertically. "reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said-opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in; said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect 'tothe article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the -end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when theilatter is in a lowered position, means responsive to movement of successive articles into said opening for lowering said element and stack in increments for keeping the stack slightly below said delivery path, hydraulic means for governing the distance through which the element and stack are lowered in said increments to accumulate a stack comprising a prescribed number of articles and for further accelerating the element and stack through a sustained lowering movement to deposit the stack on said conveyor and to continue movement of the element upwardly toward a position substantially coinciding with said delivery path,- control means actuated by movement of shingles toward said stack for effecting operation of said hydraulic means, said governing means further actuating mechanism for intercepting articles delivered into said opening after completion of a stack on said element and prior to the return of the receiving element to receiving position, and said intercepting means during upward movement of the element being operative to deposit on the latter said intercepted articles.

l1. In an article counting and stacking appara-bus, a frame having therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and endstop members and a jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a vertically reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack bein maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in alowered position, support means for said element comprising a cyclically movable component and including a control circuit operable to govern movement of said component and element, means connected in said circuit responsive tomovement of successive articles into said opening for actuating said movable component so as to lower said element and stack in increments for keeping the stack slightly below said delivery path, means for governing the distance through which the element and stack are lowered in said increments to accumulate a stack comprising a prescribed number of articles, separate control means operable by said control circuit actuating means when a stack of articles of predetermined size has been accumulated on said article-receiving element for accelerating the element and stack through a sustained lowering movement todeposit the stack on said conveyor and to continue movement of the element upwardly toward a position substantially coinciding with said delivery path, said governing means further actuating mechanism for intercepting articles delivered into said opening after com- 17 pletion of a stack on said element and prior to delivery of the stack to said conveyor, and said intercepting means being operative to deposit said intercepted articles on said element in its elevated position slightly below the delivery path of said articles.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein the article intercepting mechanism is disposed to operate in a plane immediately subjacent said delivery path whereby during sustained downward movement of the article-receiving element and the stack to deposit the latter onthe conveyor, the articles accumulated by said intercepting mechanism will be required to make. a minimized vertical drop from the plane of, said delivery path.

13. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles alonga substantially linear delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a vertically reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with re- U spect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, support means for said article-receiving element comprising an extensible and retractible member connected with said element and movable therewith between the limits of travel of the element, movable means engaging said extensible and retractible member for controlling movement of the latter between said limits of travel, control means for regulating degrees of movement of said movable controlling means, means responsive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path for impulsively actuating said control means to retract said member and its connected article-receiving element in increments for keeping the stack slightly below said delivery path, means operative in sequence with the retraction of-zsaid-member to prescribe the number of impulses'imparted to the member so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, means operative at the end of a series of impulses for effecting a sustained accelerated retraction of said retractible member to'rapidly move the stack toward and for deposit on said conveyor'and for effecting a further sustained accelerated extension of themember toward an initial starting point immediately subjacent the delivery path of said articles, and mechanism operable during the accelerated retractive movement of said article-receiving element for intercepting articles in excess of the number thereof prescribed to complete a stack which are delivered into said opening and for depositing the intercepted articles on the article-receiving element during movement of the latter toward said initial starting point.

14. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having therein an article-re- 18 ceiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a vertically reciprocable articlereceiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, support means for said article-receiving element comprising an extensible and retractible member connected with said element and movable therewith between the limits of travel of the element, movable means engaging said extensible and retractible member for controlling movement of the latter between said limits of travel, control means for regulating degrees of movement of said movable controlling means, means respon sive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path for impulsively actuating said control means to retract said member and its connected article-receiving element for keeping the top face of the stack slightly below said delivery path, counter mechanism movable through an operative cycle in correspondence with the retraction of saidmember so as to prescribe the number of impulses imparted to the member in order to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, control mechanism operative in sequence with the series of impulses for instituting a sustained accelerated movement of the article-receiving element and the stack thereon away from the delivery path so'as to deposit said stack on the conveyor and for further instituting sustained reverse movement of the article-receiving element toward an initial starting point immediately subjacenttheplane of the delivery path of said articles, and mechanism operative in an interval between deliveries. of successive articles into said opening and during the accelerated retractive movement of said article-receiving element and including means movable under said opening for intercepting the first delivered articles of the succeeding stack, said intercepting mechanism being operative in an interval between deliveries of articles into said opening to withdraw from under said opening and to deposit the intercepted articles on the article-receiving element when located at about its uppermost position.

15. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member and'movable from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a vertically reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the article by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, a cylinder and ducts associated with said receiving element comprising a fluid circuit, a piston in said cylinder connected with said article-receiving element for movement therewith and responsive to the pressure in the cylinder for controlling movement of the article-receiving element between limits of travel, control means for regulating movement of fluid in said circuit, means responsive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path forimpulsively displacing successive quantities of'fiuid in said circuit to correspondingly move the piston and to retract said articlereceiving element in increments corresponding with a selected dimension of each article, counter mechanism operative in sequence with the retraction of said element to prescribe the number of impulses imparted to said piston so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, means actuated at the end of a series of impulses forv effecting a sustained fiow of fluid in said circuit to rapidly move the piston and the article-receiving element and the stack of articles thereon toward the conveyor so as to deposit thereon said stack of articles, said means further effecting sustained reverse movement of said article-receiving element toward an initial starting point immediately subjacent the delivery path of, said articles, and mechanism operable during the accelerated movements of said articlereceiving element for intercepting articles in excessof the number thereof prescribed to complete a stack which are delivered into said opening, and for depositing the-intercepted articles on the article-receiving element after at least a substantial part ofthe movement of the latter toward said initial starting point.

16. In. an article counting and stacking apparatus, aframe having therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spacedfrcm the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear deliverypath into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a, vertically reciprocable article-receiving elementpositioned underneath said opening for accumulating, a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving elementprimarily by impingement of the article against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by. the movablell'o ger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending fromposi ion underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, a cylinder and ducts associated with said receiving element comprising a fiuid circuit, a piston in said cylinder connected withsaid article-receiving element for movement therewith and responsive to the pressure in the cylinder for controlling movement of the article-receiving element between limits of travel, control means for regulating movemen of fluid in said circuit, means responsive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path for impulsively displacing successive quantitles of fluid in said circuit to correspondingly move the piston and to retract'said article-receiving element in increments for keeping said stack slightly below said delivery path, counter mechanism operative in sequence with the retraction of said element to prescribe the number of impulses imparted to said piston so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, means actuated at the end of a series of impulses for effecting a sustained flow of fluid in said circuit to rapidly move the piston and the article-receiving element and the stack of articles thereon toward the conveyor so as to deposit thereon said stack of articles, a source of fluid under pressure, means operative at the end of said sustained movement of the article-receiving element toward the conveyor for imposing fluid pressure from said source on the fluid in said circuit so as to effect a sustained reverse movement of said article-receiving element toward an initial starting point immediately subjacent the delivery path of said articles, and mechanism operable during the accelerated movements of said article-receiving element for intercepting articles in excess of the number thereof prescribed to complete a stack which are delivered into said opening and for depositing the intercepted articles on the article-receiving element after at least the major portion of the movement of the latter toward said initial starting point.

17. In an article counting and stacking apparatus, a framehaving therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spaced from'the fixed side member and movable toward and from the latter, means on said frame for conducting a. succession of articles along a substantially'linear; delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop member, a vertically reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receivingelement primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by. the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said'opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles'from said element when the latter isin alowered position, a cylinder and ducts associated with said receiving element comprisingafluid circuit, a piston inv said cylinder connected with said article receiving element for movementtherewith and responsive to the-pressure in the cylinder ion controlling movement of the article-receiving element between limits of travel, control means for regulating movement of fiuid in said circuit, means responsive to movement of successivearticles along said delivery path for impulsively displacing successive quantities of fluid in said circuit to correspondingly move the piston and toretract said article-receiving element in increments for keeping, said stack slightly below said delivery path, counter mechanism operative in sequence with the retraction of said element to prescribe the number of impulses impartedto saidpiston so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in by said counter mechanism and operative at the end of said sustained movement ofv thearticlereceiving element toward the conveyorfor admitting to said circuit pressure fluid from said source so as to effect a sustained rapid reverse movement of said article-receiving element toward'an initial starting point'immediately subjacent the delivery path of said articles, and a reciprocable member operableduring the sustained movements of said article-receiving element to move under said article-receiving opening for intercepting articles'in excess of the number thereof prescribed to'complete a stack which are delivered into said opening "and for depositing the intercepted articles on the article-receiving element by moving toward a side of said opening after atleast a part of the movement of the latter toward said initial starting point. 18,111 an article counting and stacking apparatus, a frame having therein an article-receiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end stop members and a jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member and movable toward andfrom the latter, means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles along a substantially linear delivery path into said opening and into engagement with the end stop memher, a vertically reciprocable article-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed of successive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, a cylinder and ducts associated with said receiving element comprising a fluid circuit, a piston in said cylinder connected with said article-receiving element for movement therewith and responsive to the pressure in the cylinder for controlling movement of the article-receiving element between limits of travel, control means for regulating movement of fluid in said circuit, including a valve responsive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path for moving measured amounts of fluid in said circuit so as to correspondingly move the piston and to retract the article-receiving element in increments corresponding with the vertical thickness of the article, counter mechanism operative in sequence with the retraction of said element to prescribe the number of impulses imparted to said piston so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, a second valve in said circuit operatively connected with said counter mechanism and actuated at the end of a series of impulses for conditioning the circuit to efiect a sustained flow of fluid therein to rapidly move the piston and the article-receiving element and the stack of articles thereon toward the conveyor so as to deposit thereon said stack of articles, a source of fluid under pressure, a third valve operable by said of said articles.

source of fluid under pressure and adapted to be actuated by said counter mechanism, said reciprocable element being movable under said article-receiving opening upon institution of sustamed movement of the article-receiving element toward said conveyor for intercepting articlesin excess of the number thereof prescribed to complete a stack which are delivered'into the opening and for retraction from under said opening so as to deposit the intercepted articles on the article-receiving element when returned to its elevated position slightly below the delivery path 19. In an article counting and stacking ap- "paratus,-a frame having therein an article-re- *ceiving opening defined by relatively fixed side and end sto-p'members and a'jogger side member spaced from the fixed side member andmovable toward and from the latter,'means on said frame for conducting a succession of articles alonga substantially linear delivery path into said, opening and into engagement with theend stop member, a vertically reciprocablearticle-receiving element positioned underneath said opening for accumulating a stack composed ofsuccessive articles received in said opening, said stack being maintained in perpendicular relation with respect to the article-receiving element primarily by impingement of the articles against the end stop member and secondarily by movement of the articles by the movable jogger side member into engagement with the fixed side stop member, a conveyor extending from position underneath said opening and arranged to receive an accumulated stack of articles from said element when the latter is in a lowered position, a cylinder and ducts associated with said receiving element comprising a fluid circuit, a piston in said cylinder connected with said article-receiving element for movement therewith and responsive to the pressure in the cylinder for controlling movement of the article-receiving element between limits of travel, control means for regulating movement of fluid in said circuit, means including a valve responsive to movement of successive articles along said delivery path for moving measured amounts of fluid in said circuit so as to correspondingly move the piston and toretract the article-receiving element in increments for keeping said stack at about the same distance below said delivery path, counter mechanism operative in sequence with the retraction of said element to prescribe the number of impulses imparted to said piston so as to govern the number of articles accumulated in said stack, a second valve in said circuit operatively connected with said counter mechanism bypassing said first valve, said second valve being actuated at the end of a series of impulses for conditioning the circuit to effect a sustained flow of fluid therein to rapidly move the piston and the article-receiving element and the stack of articles thereon to- Ward the conveyor so as to deposit thereon said stack of articles, a source of fluid under pressure, a third valve operable by said counter mechanism subsequent to deposit of the stack of artian article-receiving opening-,-

clesf: on" said; conveyor: for admitting; fluid: under pressuret from said source intossaid circuitsd as to effect. a reversal 1 Of. flow" of fluid in said circuit v-andto further effect; sustained ran'd rapid reversei movementof said i article-receiving elementitowardf-an initial starting point immediately 'subjacent the delivery. path of said articles, and :a horizontally reciprocable element arranged adjacent said'; articleereceiving" opening; having meanss'connected with-said 'source'of fiuidunder pressure and adapted: to" be actuatedihy said counter; mechanism, said" horizontally reciprocable': element being. movable" under said opening uponi institution of sustained movement of the article-Y-receiving elem'enti toward said conveyor for intercepting articlesrin excess of the-number thereof: prescribedto complete a stack which are delivered intothe openingend forretraction from under: said openingrsoras to deposit the intercepted: articles: on the article-receiving element; said deposit of intercepted articles on the article-receiving element taking placezclosely; adjacent'to the delivery path of said articles;-

20.;In an article; counting and stacking" apparatus, a framefhavingmeans thereon defining means on said frame for conducting? a succession of articles along a substantiallylinear unobstructed delivery path: toward and into said-opening, a verticallyreciprocable article-receiving; element'positioned underneath. said opening for accumulating; a stack-composed of-successive articles received in said'opening, a conveyor extending from under said-opening and arranged to receivean accumulated stack of articles'from said element when thelattenis in a-lowermostjpo'sition of its movemerit;v control mechanism operable by and upon passage of successive articles .past a point in said delivery; path for effecting: verticalv alignment of the: articles in said stack and for actuatingapparatus efiectingintermittent. downward movement; of said article-receiving; element from an uppermost" position of its movement so as; to periodically'maintain the'top 0f the stackin' sub.- stantialregistry with'the'plane'of the delivery path: of. said articles,. and means operative: after accumulation of. a prescribed number-of articles inisaid; stackto deposit-thev stack of articles :on said conveyor, and means-'movable undersaid opening substantially'with said deposit for; intercepting" a? series of delivered articles while said stack is' b'eing. deposited 101']. said conveyor and-for transferring said 'seriesof articles to the articlereceiving. element. after deposit of the, stack; on

said conveyor.

' GORDON B5 FORBES, JR."

REFERENCES- CITED I'he followingreferences'are. of record inthe file ofthis patent:

UNITED. STATES. PATENTS Number Name" Date 1,569,032 Reichel Jan; 12,1926 [385,547 Quick et' a1 Dec 25,1934 2,005;906 Pierce June-25; 1-935 2,228,887 Peterson" Jan; 14-; 1941 

